About The Old Royal Naval College

Greenwich, LondonSouth East London, SE10 9NN

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich is London’s ultimate riverside wedding location, perfect at any time of year.

One of the most spectacular and iconic landmarks in London, this elegant ensemble of buildings offers you a choice of wedding experiences, from the awe-inspiring opulence of the famous Painted Hall (repoening late 2018 / early 2019), to the intimate ambience of the historic Admiral’s House. The famous buildings of the college that have dazzled visitors for centuries sit alongside the river with unrivalled views across to the City and Canary Wharf.

The vaulted Undercrofts and the Victorian Skittle Alley can also be hired to create your own personalized wedding event, guaranteed to delight your guests and create memories to treasure for a lifetime.

Marrying at the Old Royal Naval College gives you exclusive permission to take photographs in the grounds with the river and fine baroque architecture as a backdrop. You can also choose to arrive by boat, alighting at Greenwich Pier to create a dramatic, one-off photo opportunity.

The Old Royal Naval College is breath-taking at any time of year. In the chilly days of winter the rich interiors are warm and welcoming. The classical buildings gleam and glisten in spring, and on warm summer evenings guests can enjoy an al fresco drink in the King William Colonnades. As autumn progresses, the gold, orange and russet hues of the trees add another layer of beauty to the location.

Couples who choose to marry at the Old Royal Naval College will be assigned their own wedding coordinator, supported by a team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to creating your very own fairy-tale wedding in one of the country’s most spectacular and historic places.

 Say your vows in the breathtaking Painted Hall or romantic hideaway of the Admirals House For intimate weddings in the Admirals House or grand affairs in the Painted Hall Endless photo opportunities both inside and outside

The Old Royal Naval College Reviews (11)

Stunning venue! Venue Service

By Shruti and Ben, on 07 Mar 2019Date of Wedding - 16 Feb 2019

We had our wedding at the Painted Hall a couple of weeks ago, shortly after it reopened after the conservation works. Words cannot do justice to how beautiful the venue is -- absolutely stunning, may be even breathtaking! Our guests could not stop raving about how gorgeous it was. Beyond the stunning architecture and interiors of the venue itself, the service provided by CH&Co, especially our dedicated team of Lizi and Ben, was fantastic. The food was delicious and we got a lot of compliments from guests on it. The toastmaster, Peter, was amazing -- so many guests commented on how he gently and calmly led guests through the whole experience and kept the evening running like clockwork. All around, just a fantastic experience.

Wedding at the Admiral's House Venue Service

By Imogen Large, on 31 Oct 2018Date of Wedding - 27 Oct 2018

The Admiral's House was the first wedding venue we went to see - and the only one we needed to see. We were set on it immediately!
From the very start Lizi was incredible - we always knew when to expect things to happen, and she would answer even the smallest questions (especially in the last few weeks before the wedding). It was like planning a wedding with a good friend. A very professional friend who knew exactly what she was doing! Her shared excitement in our wedding made the whole experience that much more special.
We had a lot of different diets to accommodate - vegetarian, vegan, and coeliac, and the caterers dealt with it all admirably. No one was given a meal that was 'less' than any other, each one was an intentionally crafted delight - right down to the provision of some non-dairy chocolates with coffee. So many of our guests commented on how amazing the food was.
The venue co-ordinated with our various supplies perfectly, taking all of the stress out of the day itself - and they even rallied to my tiny instructions for special touches (like arranging pencils on origami butterflies, I kid you not).
We really could not have asked for a more perfect wedding - it all ran so smoothly on the day. Ioana even stopped me from going down the aisle with one of my buttons undone - phew. The whole staff on the day were just fantastic, and we felt like they were supporting and looking out for us. If I could do my whole wedding again, I would do it in exactly the same way, with these amazing people.

Dream Wedding! Venue Service

By Lucille and Steve K, on 17 Sep 2018Date of Wedding - 07 Sep 2018

At first sight, we knew the Admiral's House was the venue for us. The fact that the staff, especially Elizabeth (Liz) and Brian, were amazing, really helped make this our dream wedding.
The venue is absolutely gorgeous and is a perfect setting for a wedding. We loved all of the rooms, and the grounds made for perfect wedding photos.
We had a lot of dietary requirements and those were all handled brilliantly. Speaking of the food, all of the dishes served were delicious from the starter to the dessert. The table staff were very professional and everything was coordinated perfectly.
As we had to organize our wedding from America, Liz, gave great suggestions for vendors and always was available to discuss any questions or concerns we had. Big ones, little ones, even silly ones. Brian, on the day was so good, we didn't have to worry about a thing. He made sure the wedding flowed nicely, and everything was done to schedule. Everyone associated with the venue was very accommodating and really helped make this a memorable experience.
We had a relatively small wedding, about 60 people for the day, and don't think there is another venue that we would have even considered. The Admirals House is such a historic place and being able to have our Dream Wedding there was perfect!

Top Class - Made Our Wedding Wonderful! Venue Service

By Toyin & Dan Miller, on 07 Jun 2018Date of Wedding - 01 Jun 2018

We fell in love with this venue following our first visit and were so happy that the Queen Mary Undercroft was available for our big day in June 2018. Lizi, Ben and the team were first class in all their communications and engagement with us - often providing very helpful suggestions. The menu tasting evening was amazing and we were made to feel special through every step of the process. The food and bar service on the day was top notch and the food itself was so well presented and very appetising.
The ORNC setting is really wonderful and we loved the proximity to both Greenwich Park and the Thames River - it made for a great day and one that all our guests really enjoyed. I would highly recommend this venue and the events team - you are in great hands from day one!

Lizi Smith, Sales & Marketing Manager at The Old Royal Naval College responded to this review on 26/06/2018 10:34:31

Thank you for the absolutely lovely feedback! Our team loved working with you in the lead up and also on the day itself. It is always our favourites when couples make their day about them and including lots of personal touches.
We hope you will keep visiting the venue in years to come!
Lizi, Ben & the ORNC Team :)

Lovely venue, superb staff, excellent food Venue Service

The Admiral's House was the perfect venue for us. The staff were fantastic through the planning to the day itself, and helped ensure everything ran smoothly. The food was excellent and the chef was very patient with all our menu requirements and last minute requests. So pleased we chose this as our wedding venue.

Elizabeth Smith, Sales & Marketing Manager at The Old Royal Naval College responded to this review on 21/08/2017 13:14:30

Keren & Richard - thank you so much for your lovely words! We had a fantastic time looking after you and your guests on your special day but also in the lead up and planning. We loved all your little details and how you made it your own. (Plus your fantastic shoes!) We wish you both a happy life and hope we will see you in Greenwich again!

Absolutely fantastic. Best day of our lives. Venue Service

By Jamie and Funmi, on 10 Sep 2017Date of Wedding - 31 Jul 2017

Lizi and Ben...the venue...the food. The team is very meticulous and patient in fulfilling (and exceeding) expectations and requirements. We were pleased with every aspect of not only the day, but the stages prior to the wedding. A big thanks to the team who were always:
- Professional
- Patient
- Friendly
- Genuine
- Excellent

THE MOST AMAZING DAY OF OUR LIVES Venue Service

By Simon Lewis, on 05 Sep 2017Date of Wedding - 22 Jul 2017

Firstly I cannot thank Lizi for her amazing help and support in the lead up to our big day and Ben on the day itself! They are the dream team of weddings!
We got married in the Admirals House, for just a small wedding ceremony & breakfast for 35, with additional evening guests. I know we were a small party, but the attention that each of our guests received from the kind-hearted Ampersand staff on the day warmed my heart.
The food was incredible & so flavoursome. We knew just from reading the menu, what our food would be. The chef is 5***** - amazing cook!
We had an incredible day that we will never forget...thank you so much Ben & Lizi - and thank your amazing staff as well!

From the moment we contacted Leiths, nothing was too much trouble. Our impressions of The Painted Hall, Management team - Ian, Kate and Will cannot be fully described in any other way than the superlatives already used. The food was delicious, service superb and ambiance second to none. The early November evening ceremony, reception and breakfast presented a back drop which left guests open mouthed. The after-breakfast party downstairs in the Queen Mary ante-room was so successful the bride and groom didn''t want to leave! Truly a day we shall remember for the rest of our lives. Thank you Leiths.

We would not hesitate to recommend The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich as a venue for your wedding. The venue is breathtaking and certainly gave a ‘wow’ factor to our celebrations.
If you haven’t visited The Painted Hall we urge you to. We chose to marry in a civil ceremony and our wedding took place in The Painted Hall on the 29th January 2005. The Painted Hall is a truly stunning venue for an evening winter wedding and we received many compliments from our guests about our choice of venue. On a dark winter’s evening The Painted Hall took on a romantic air, the candelabras providing very subtle lighting and the Hall itself offering a stunning back-drop for our photographs which were deliberately taken indoors.
From the moment we visited Leith’s, the Old Royal Naval College’s exclusive hospitality and events management company, we received unbeatable service. Our wedding coordinators, Bonnie Sahil and Kerry Pedrick, could not have done anything more to help us in organising our wedding. No question or request was too small or too big and their professionalism, together with their friendly approach and genuine enthusiasm, made preparing for our big day a pleasure rather than a stress. We were very lucky to have this kind of support throughout.
On the day itself Leith’s continued to impress us. Ian’s catering team were all immaculately turned out and attentively looked after our family and friends. His team was slick and professional at all times and did a great job catering for a large crowd. We received many compliments about the food which was excellent.
We enjoyed a fairytale wedding in a stunning venue … a day dreams are made of.

A TRUE "CINDERELLA AT THE BALL" VENUE!! Venue Service

By Glynis Sullivan-Porteous, on 09 Mar 2005

If you want to feel like Cinderella, and have each and every one of your guests say WOW at the same time when they walk into your venue, then go to the Painted Hall. It has to be seen to be believed - it is quite breathtaking and without exception our guests were blown away by its beauty. Topped with the fact that the catering is done by Leiths, you can have one really amazing "do", and they are very good at catering for your exact budget so you don't even have to break the bank. The team at Leiths were quite simply wonderful - which was particularly important to me as I was arranging the wedding from New York, so didn't have time to chase people up all the time. The meal and drink service on the day was like a military operation, and so many of our guests commented on the fantastic food, and the fact that every time they turned around their glass had already been filled!! (Perfect for our friends!) After the meal that took 3 hours (we didn't want to leave the setting!) we went downstairs for dancing which was great as there's a bar that runs along the whole length of the room - with lots of staff as there's nothing worse than waiting for a drink! If I had to do it all again there's nothing I would change - apart from the fact I'm so sad that I don't have to speak to my contacts there again - they became firm friends in my 9 months of planning! Go and see for yourself the venue - words really can't do it justice.

The venue made it a fairy tale wedding to remember Venue Service

By Kevin and Rajee Watts, on 09 Mar 2005

We were married in January at 4.30pm. The Painted Hall looks absolutely magnificent in the early evening as the long hall spans out in front of you, the painted walls and ceiling were illuminated by the candlabra lights throughout. As 100 or so guests arrived, the remnant splendour of the hall came to life and the feeling was truly surreal.
This is a great venue for a winter wedding. We had the civil ceremony in the main hall where seating had been set up at the top of the hall, theatre style. We used a string quartet for background music.
After the service we held a drinks reception by the entrance and photographs were in the collonades outside and inside the hall itself. As you are unable to access the hall until 4.00pm one of the down sides is that all the photography is by flash as it is dark early. But the collonade shots still look quite impressive, and down by gates to the river Thames came out well. The shots inside the hall look very impressive with the painted backdrop everywhere. (Outside it was very cold!!)
For the reception we had a banquet in the upper hall (no party, just dinner and speeches) and the service was excellent. The caterers were very attentive to our needs and followed our instructions accurately, were also on hand for last minute adjustments throughout, as you would expect. Early contact in the planning stages had been a bit poor but once we had finally met, the communication after this, two weeks or so leading up to the event, was excellent. We found it a bit pricey on drink but food was competitive. Good quality though and very flexible. Overall, it is more affordable than you might think overall.
All our guests were blown away with this venue and often will remind us; that it truly was a "fairy tale wedding to remember".

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